248 RARE PLANTS NEAR TRURO. 



panicle of flowers, and leaflets rather more lance-shaped than those 

 usually met with. Among the 36 species into which Mr. Babington 

 divides the Rubus tribe, it is very difficult to assign to each its 

 right place ; still this one may be Bubus radula, Weihe. A second 

 variety, with handsome leaves and a glaucous hue on its dark 

 purple stems, grows in the road leading from Frogmore to Tresil- 

 lian ; this one has a great resemblance to Rubus corylifolius, a 

 species abundant near the sea, but not so common in inland places. 

 It is not, however, identical in all points, and may be Rubus Bal- 

 fourianus, Blox. An atteiitive examination of the fruit would 

 determine the question. — A third kind grows on banks of streams 

 and in damp places about Tresillian, and has large dark-green 

 shining leaves, and few and small prickles. Its petals are round 

 and pale-pink, and its flowers handsome. This is possibly Rubus 

 pampinosus, Lees. But these names are merely projposed, and are 

 open to correction. 



In one of the fields adjoining this road was once found a 

 single plant of common Star Thistle (Gentaurea calcitrapa, L. j. It 

 is the only instance in which it has been recorded as growing 

 in the county of Cornwall, and of course it was not truly indi- 

 genous, having been probably imported with some agricultural 

 seeds from a distance. 



Of Monocotyledonous Plants there are not many to enumerate, 

 Alisma ranunculoides has been mentioned above. In the woods at 

 Trehane occurs sparingly Common Tway Blade (Lister a ovata, Br.^/ 

 and on some of the high grounds of the same estate may be found 

 fragrant Ladies' Tresses (Spiranthes autumnalis, Rich, j The former 

 has nothing particularly attractive about it — two handsome leaves 

 and a spike of brownish-green flowers ; but the latter is always 

 an interesting plant, from the peculiar style of its inflorescence. 

 It is well known that many plants produce their buds in a spiral 

 manner ; but this closely set row of cream-coloured flowers winding 

 round the stem appears to be unique in the flora of this kingdom. 

 Wliat can be the advantage to the plant of this arrangement, is a 

 question more easily asked than answered. It prefers the neigh- 

 bourhood of the sea, and abounds on the north coast of Cornwall 

 and in the Isles of Scilly. — The Little Quaking Grass (Briza 

 minor), so very rare in other counties, grows in many scattered 

 corners about ; and so does another grass, Gastridium lendigerum. 



